Texas Spirits: Summer 2015 Around the World

(A guest blog by Jackie Wang)

Texas Spirits work hard during the school year and this summer, many of us are scattering across the globe to take a well-deserved break from the university. While I plan on staying in Austin to take classes, I will be living vicariously through some of these girls’ stories, because they’re all pretty amazing.

Haley Qualman (Spring 14) heads to Buenos Aires to study this summer, after falling in love with Latin American Studies. She wants to see for herself how a growing city of 14 million people developed and deals with its issues.\

“This semester, I took my first Latin American Studies class (which is my minor) and really fell in love,” she said. “Most Americans believe that Latin America is undeveloped and poor, and although this is true in some regions, Latin America is growing at an immense rate. I chose to study abroad in Buenos Aires because I want to see first-hand how a city of its size (almost 14 million people!) developed and what issues it faces as a growing city. In the future, I would love to start my own non-profit in Latin America, so going to Buenos Aires is the first step!”

Unnu Shukla (Spring 14) and Kayla Blanchard (Fall 14) will both be studying international marketing in Paris for a short-term program, but Unnu will continue to backpack around Europe for a few weeks.

“I'm looking forward to all the spontaneity and unexpected experiences that will occur,” Unnu said. “Also the food? The food for sure.”

Kathryn Lewis (Spring 14) said she will be repeating her mission trip from last year to Haiti, where she and her church group visit Harvest House Haiti, an orphanage for children with AIDS and disabilities. She helps to build up the orphanage, provide supplies, and will hold a vacation bible school at the orphanage.

She’s returning to Haiti for one boy, she said.

“Mackinson is the little boy who stole my heart last summer when I went to Haiti for the first time,” Kathryn said. “Mackinson along with all the orphans I met last summer have truly given me a new perspective on life and inspired me in so many ways.”

Kathryn reminds herself every day that the things we take for granted - running water, electricity and food - are luxuries. But even with the lack of things we come to expect, the kids she works with have so much joy.

“I am doing what I am doing because these children are lacking the love that they deserve. I was blessed to be given this by my parents, and my hope is to provide as much of it as I can in their lives.”

Not all of us are heading outside the country to have an amazing summer, however. Paige Parent (Fall 14) plans to stay in Austin and become certified as a yoga instructor at CorePower Yoga.

“I want to find the spiritual side within myself by pursuing a deeper training of yoga,” she said. “Yoga takes me to place where I feel really beautiful spiritually. I look forward to hopefully mastering Swan and variations of headstands and handstands.”

Have a wonderful summer, ladies!

barre3- ballet, yoga and pilates

(A Guest Blog by Katy Wainwright)

For the past year, I have been working at a barre studio downtown called barre3. While I took on the job for the sole purpose of needing more spending money (college kid problems), I never expected to get lifelong friendships and family out of it! The two co-owners are sisters, and they offered a warm welcome as soon as I stepped in the door. Not to mention the entire staff is so unique, and all have one thing in common: to make others feel good about themselves. This studio reflects everything it means to be friendly, caring, and generous. As soon as I realized how amazing the barre3 community is (and it didn’t take me very long), I wanted to share it with my Texas Spirits family!

Earlier this semester, we hosted a private class for Texas Spirits. Alumnae, Kari Wainwright, taught the class and brought the shakes and quakes of all that is barre3. The girls who came were surprised at how tough the practice is, considering you only move an inch at a time! With a killer playlist, words of encouragement, and constant jokes to keep us smiling, Kari led us through an hour of a tough workout. Since then, Texas Spirit girls have continued to come to the studio to experience different instructors, and have even brought other friends along to try it out. I am so happy that I got to introduce my two Austin families! Nothing beats a day of barre3 and Texas Spirits!

If you are ever in the Austin area and are looking for a barre studio to test your endurance, barre3 is the place to go!

Spirit of the Week: Bria Benjamin

Bria Benjamin

Hometown: Arlington, Tx

Major: Advertising with Spanish Minor

Spring '14 Weenie

What is your favorite thing to do/about Austin? 

Everything. There is so much to do that I haven't even begun to see all that this city has in store. So, my favorite thing about Austin is always having something new to try or another adventure to embark.

What is one thing on your bucket list? 

I want to be really influential.

What is your favorite memory from spirits? 

It's a tie between going to the lake with my weenie class (shoutout Spring '14) and the sleepover with my beloved ghoulfam. Both were instances spent with spirits that were completely chill, just enjoying one another's company. 

Weenie of the Week: Melanie Brown

Melanie Brown

Hometown: San Antonio, Tx

Major: Nutrition

Spring '15 Weenie

What is your favorite thing to do in Austin?

My fave thing to do in austin is run to town lake and bask in the sun.

What is one thing on your bucket list?

One thing on my bucket list is to go to every national park in the US!

If you could meet any one person from the past who would that be?

If i could meet one person from the past it would have to be my mom when she was a teenage

Senior Night at Smudge Studios

Every spring before our seniors graduate we give them a little something extra. This year our seniors went to Smudge Studios, where they celebrated the end of the year in the Smudge Room. In the Smudge Room, there are canvases of all sizes that line the walls and you then get to splatter paint in every direction you please! Sort of sounds like the paint filled balloons from The Princess Diaries that everyone has wanted to do since the 4th grade, right? The result is personalized abstract paintings that you get to take home (after they dry of course!).

After the paint party, the seniors headed to Schultz's Beer Garden for a night a dancing and just hanging out with their girls. Each of these women have impacted us individually and as an organization, and it's no surprise that they part with a splash (of paint)!

Dressing Cute for Spring

(A Guest Blog By Zahra Ahmed)

Going to college in a city that frequently alternates between 50 degrees and rainy to 105 degrees by 10am (with not much in between), it’s very difficult to construct the perfect college wardrobe equipped to help you brave the storms, beat the heat and still look good.

Especially with the summer weather now approaching (and the repressed memories of dreaded back sweat starting to resurface) it seems impossible to look like a decently attractive human being with what limited time we have to get ready in the morning. However, with the help of a few staples, you can be out the door in no time at all.

    1) Three words: Cotton. V-neck. Tees.

      Cotton tees are to a wardrobe as nutella is to life: good with everything and never a bad idea.

      Whether you wear them with jeans for the All-American girl vibe, a maxi skirt for Boho chic, or just    a air of printed shorts, they are the most comfortable way to look put together and the easiest item to  dress up (refer to number 2).

     2) Statement necklaces

My biggest trick. Buy a bunch of statement necklaces, wear them with a plain tee and some jeans, graciously accept compliments about how fashionable you are. Simple enough. But seriously, it is so easy to dress up any outfit with a necklace and it immediately makes you look like you tried a million times harder than you did.

My favorites are from J.Crew (You can get a 15% student discount with your college ID!!!!). I always buy mine on sale from the factory store so I never pay more than $15  for them.

3) BABYDOLL DRESSES

       I am a firm believer in dresses. Why put on multiple items of clothing when you can just put on one  and look infinitely better. Babydoll dresses in particular are perfect for hot weather and great for        spending all day walking around campus. They’re loose and airy so they don’t cling to you (which    we can all appreciate when its over a hundred degrees and the sun is blaring) and can be dressed up  with sandals or dressed down with a pair of chucks.

1   4) Ankle Boots

Probably the greatest struggle for me is finding shoes that are comfortable enough to run around in through campus all day long. As comfortable as running shoes are, sometimes they just don’t cut it style-wise. Ankle boots are a great option for completing the simplest of outfits while preventing the end of the day “My feet are about to fall off and I am going to die” feeling. Try looking for a pair of leather boots with a one inch stacked heel. The leather will soften the more you wear them and mold to your feel and the chunky heel will distribute your weight over your entire foot. (Plus it’ll give you really nice calves and elongate your legs)

Those are just some of my summer essentials, but of course it is important to dress in whatever you are comfortable with—regardless of whether that’s nike shorts and chacos or wedges and a dress. Most importantly, whatever you wear, carry yourself with grace and confidence. And remember: it’s not sweat, it’s a glow.